Showing posts with label cilantro. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cilantro. Show all posts

Monday, February 28, 2011

(My favorite) Mango Salsa








 This is my favorite Mango Salsa recipe. I think I like it so much because of the sweetness brought to it by the jalapeno jelly. I always have some in my pantry because I make my own with left over jalapenos from my garden each summer. If you don't have any on hand, I recommend buying some. It really "makes" this salsa.

ENJOY!

Mango Salsa

4-5 ripe Roma tomatoes
1/2 medium red onion
1 large ripe mango
2 TBSP. cilantro
1 tsp. minced garlic
3 TBSP. jalapeno jelly (warm in the microwave for few seconds to soften)
juice from half a lime
salt and pepper to taste

Chop all ingredients together and enjoy with chips.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Black Bean Burgers with Cilantro Lime Mayo


This dinner was a SERIOUS crowd pleaser at my house last night (if two is considered a crowd.)  Nonetheless, both my husband and I were in love with this meal!  You probably feel like I say that about recipes a lot . . . and I think I do.  We either just really like food or I rock at finding REALLY good recipes . . . or both!

This recipe is perfect for you vegetarians or people like me who are trying to not eat quite as much meat.  I grew up in a house with a Dad who had to have meat with every meal and the past couple of months I have realized that mindset stuck with me.  And ever since getting Bountiful Baskets, my mindset has really changed.  We've been eating meatless meals a couple times a week and we are both loving it!

We also used up our red potatoes from weeeeeeeeks ago by serving roasted red potatoes alongside these yummy burgers.  It was the perfect side.  Just dice up your red potatoes into bite size pieces, toss them into a Ziploc bag with some olive oil and some spices of your choice (I used fresh garlic, seasoning salt, parsley, thyme, basil, and black pepper).  Shake the bag real good to coat each piece of potato and dump out onto a baking sheet.  Roast in the oven at 400 degrees for 25-40 minutes (just depends on how cooked you like them).

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did!

Black Bean Burgers with Cilantro Lime Mayo

Burgers:
In the bowl of a food processor, pulse 4 slices stale or toasted whole wheat sandwich bread to form breadcrumbs. Pour into a bowl and set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive or canola oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add 1 medium onion, chopped, and sauté until soft. Add 2 cloves garlic, minced, 2 tablespoons minced jalapeno pepper (membranes and seeds removed – unless you like more heat), and 1 teaspoon ground cumin. Saute for additional 2 minutes.


Scrape the mixture into the food processor. Add 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed, 1 ¼ cups cooked brown rice, 2 teaspoon fresh lime juice, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Pulse until the beans are chopped, but not pureed.

Scrape the black bean mixture into a large bowl. Add ½ of the breadcrumbs and ¼ cup chopped cilantro. Using a wooden spoon, stir the mixture until combined.

Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and form into patties. If the mixture is too moist to form patties, add more breadcrumbs. Place the patties on a baking sheet lined with plastic wrap and cover with additional plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour.

Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a large skillet (preferably not nonstick, so a good crust can form) set over medium heat. Add the burgers and cook for 4 minutes per side.

Cilantro-Lime Mayo:

In a small bowl, combine ½ cup mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro, and ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Stir well.

Lightly toast 4 whole wheat buns. Spread 2 tablespoons cilantro-lime mayo on each bun, and top each with a black bean patty, 2 tablespoons crumbled cotija cheese (found in most supermarkets, but we just used cheddar), lettuce, 1 slice large tomato, and 3 slices avocado. Serve and ENJOY.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Tilapia with Cucumber Mint Relish and Coconut Rice


Okay, this recipe doesn't use a lot of veggies we have gotten from our baskets lately.  The only thing I used up was an English Cucumber.  BUT, it was SO good that I had to post it anyway.  Amazing, actually.  My dear friend, Kristie, gave it to me several months ago and I finally made it last night.  I'm pretty sure this will be a regular around our house!

Tilapia with Cucumber Mint Relish and Coconut Rice

Coconut, Mint, and Chive Relish:
1 1/2 cups peeled and chopped English Cucumber
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chopped fresh chives
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut
2 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint
2 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro (I used 3 Tablespoons)
1-2 jalapeno peppers seeded and minced (use only 1 if you don't like the heat)!
2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon peanut oil (I just used Olive Oil...it's what we already had)
1 teaspoon mustard seeds (I used ground mustard...again, what we already had)

Fish:
2 teaspoons grated lime rind
1 1/2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon peanut oil (again, I used Olive Oil)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
6 ( 6 ounce) tilapia fillets (You can buy individually packaged fillets at any grocery store and it's cheap!)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
Cooking spray
lime wedges

Coconut Rice:
***I doubled this recipe
1 cup coconut milk
1 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup white rice (not instant)
1 Tablespoon sugar

1.  Preheat Boiler
2.  To prepare Coconut Rice:  Combine 1 cup coconut milk, 1 1/2 cups water, and 1 teaspoon salt in a pot over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring OFTEN.  Once it is boiling, add the rice and reduce heat to a simmer.  Cover and cook 20-25 minutes.  Once rice is cooked add 1 Tablespoon of sugar, sprinkle on top and let it soak in for a few minutes.
3.  To prepare relish:  Combine cucumber, chives, coconut, mint, cilantro, and jalapeno. Stir in 3/4 teaspoon salt, 2 Tablespoons of lime juice, and 1/2 teaspoon cumin.  Heat 1 teaspoon peanut oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.  Add mustard seeds; saute 30 seconds or until seeds begin to pop.  Add to cucumber mixture. Set aside
5.  To prepare fish: Combine lime rind, lime juice, peanut oil, cumin, and red pepper; rub evenly over fish.  Sprinkle fish with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and pepper.  Place fish on a baking sheet covered with aluminum foil (easier to clean up) and broil 7-10 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.  
6.  Serve fish over coconut rice topped with cucumber relish = YUM!

Friday, January 21, 2011

BBQ Chicken Wraps

 {I'm REALLY sorry for my terrible pictures lately.  I am in desperate need of a new camera, I know!}

Last night we had the most delicious, simple dinner.  It was a perfect dinner in my opinion.  I could eat this dinner a couple times a week.  In fact, I had the left overs for dinner tonight and just might have it for lunch tomorrow!  Maybe I love it so much because it is a variation on one of my absolute favorite meals I've talked about before . . . BBQ Chicken Salad.

Here's what we did:
BBQ Chicken Wraps

Ingredients:
fresh tortillas (the ones you get from BB would be awesome, we buy ours at Costco)
boneless chicken breasts, cut in slices
BBQ Sauce (we use Sweet Baby Ray's.  YUM.  It's the best.)
blue cheese dressing (Maria's Blue Cheese is amazing.)
lettuce
green onions, chopped
avocado, sliced
red bell pepper, sliced
tomato, sliced
cilantro, finely chopped

Directions:
Cook your chicken in a large saucepan.  Once cooked through, add the bbq sauce and let cook for another 3 to 5 minutes.  Assemble the chicken, blue cheese dressing, and vegetables onto tortilla.  Wrap up and ENJOY!

See?  Totally simple.  And I promise the combination of all of the flavors is near perfection.
We had Roasted Parmesan Asparagus like Kim talked about here on the side and it was the perfect addition. Seriously, the perfect meal.
 

Monday, January 17, 2011

SPINACH, Oh How I Love You


I was ecstatic that we received spinach in our baskets this week.  I adore spinach and throw handfuls of it into all kinds of dishes; smoothies, eggs, omelettes, spaghetti sauce, quesadillas, but this week I used our spinach to make one of my favorite dishes.  Technically it's called Mexican Lasagna, but when I first received this recipe I could never remember it's name and we just referred to it as Mexican Whatever and that stuck.  I found this recipe on CuisineNie plus many, many other recipes we love to make. 

Grab that spinach and let's get started...

Mexican Lasagna
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
4 scallions, coarsely chopped
Coarse salt and ground pepper
10 ounces fresh baby spinach
Nonstick cooking spray
8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
1 (15.5 ounces) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup prepared salsa (mild or medium)
8 ounces pepper Jack cheese, grated (about 2 cups)
(I only use 1 cup)

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a food processor, combine cilantro, scallions, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper with as much spinach as will fit; pulse, adding remaining spinach in batches, until coarsely chopped.

Coat an 8-inch square baking dish (I use whatever dish is handy) with cooking spray. Lay 4 tortillas in bottom of dish (they will overlap slightly). Layer with half of beans, salsa, spinach mixture, and cheese; repeat with remaining ingredients, ending with cheese and pressing in gently.

Cover dish with foil and bake until bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes; remove foil, and continue baking until golden, 15 to 20 minutes more. Cool 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

**My husband doesn't think this is spicy but I do.  If you don't tolerate spice well, definitely use the mild salsa and use half pepper jack cheese with half Monterrey jack.  I have done that before and it does produce a milder flavor, but still just as delicious!


BTW--if you haven't noticed, my family could eat some sort of Mexican dish every night of the week.  Y-U-M!!!